Washington & Old Dominion (W & OD) Trail

Running through much of Northern Virginia, the W&OD Trail is a 45-miles long asphalt paved trail (short portions are concrete) that connects to the Custis Trail and the Four Mile Run Trail. The W&OD Trail is perfect for getting in a long run or ride without getting lost in a new area. The majority of the trail has very minimal intersections, although the portion of the trail that approaches Arlington has several. Mile markers are found along the route along with water fountains, benches, and trash cans every few miles. Some parks are located along the trail, making parking convenient. The path is very well marked, with signage indicating the direction and mileage to various cities. The trail is well used and can get busy during rush hour when commuters are traveling. Because the W&OD Trail is a rail trail, it is primarily flat. There are some shaded portions and it is largely a natural environment. Although the trail is secluded, runners and cyclists are unlikely to be alone during the day.

One Response

Sandy

Another great Arlington trail, with the trailhead (Mile 0) starting near the Shirlington neighborhood. I’ve run it many time throughout my marathon training. A great place to park is at Bluemont Park in Arlington (Mile 3.5). Here, there are restrooms and a decent sized parking lot. If you’re doing a really long run, you can do an out & back in one direction, return to your car to refuel, then do an out & back in the other direction. If you want to tackle a couple serious hills, you’ll want to hit the section between Mile 7.5 and Mile 9.